However, the former WEC lightweight champion later wrote, the
message was not from himself, but from a “buddy who thought it
would be funny to tweet that garbage.

“My twitter got hijacked last night! I’m not going to 145,” Varner
clarified in a later message. “I’m goin back to school for
pre-med... then gonna figure it out from there!”

Varner, who has previously attended Lock Haven University in
Pennsylvania (where he studied accounting) and graduated from Pima
Community College in Arizona, did not specify where he planned to
study or how long he expected to be away from MMA competition.

Despite a 4-0 start to his WEC career, the 26-year-old Arizona
native was released by WEC and UFC parent company Zuffa LLC in late
December after going winless in his last four outings.

After keeping his title in a controversial technical decision
against Donald
Cerrone in January 2009, Varner sat on the shelf for nearly one
year to rehab a hand injury he sustained in that bout. Upon his
return, Varner lost his belt to Benson
Henderson when he was submitted via third-round guillotine
choke at WEC
46.

Varner would next fight to a foul-marred split draw against
Kamal
Shalorus at June’s WEC
49. His slump continued in September, when Varner dropped a
unanimous decision in an anticipated rematch with now-nemesis
Cerrone, though the bout earned “Fight of the Night” honors for
WEC
51.

In December, at the final WEC event, Varner was submitted in his
home state by powerhouse wrestler Shane
Roller, a loss which capped his 0-3-1 year and prompted his
exit from the company.